It’s tax season and as of today you have until April 18 to file or obtain an extension. For Christians, paying taxes is something we do because we’re instructed to do so in Scripture. The Apostle Paul wrote to believers in Rome:

“For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” (Romans 13:6-7)

Moreover, it was our Lord who said, “render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (Matthew 22:21)

The Civil War led to the first national income tax under President Lincoln in 1861. It was a flat 3% levy on incomes over $800. Congress repealed this income tax in 1872, and the Supreme Court struck down a subsequent attempt to enact progressive income tax in 1894. Eventually, the 16th Amendment altered the Constitution to permit a progressive income tax in 1913, which was ratified by 42 of the 48 states. It was progressive in that the wealthier you were, the more taxes you had to pay.

What’s interesting is that arguments made in Congress were based on Christian principles such as God’s concern for the poor. One congressman even cited Luke 12:48: “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required.”

While we may have very strong feelings about how our tax dollars are being spent, it remains our Christian duty to pay them. Personally, it’s my belief that we should pay taxes honestly, but that we should not pay one penny more than what is due. Take advantage of every deduction and tax break legally available to you. If you’re like me and not an expert in this area, find someone who can help you.

At the same time, I believe that cheating on your taxes is stealing, and therefore is a sin. The temptation to be dishonest in order to evade paying taxes must be resisted. Because I am a Christian and a pastor—but not a CPA—it is important for me to keep my finances above board. For that reason, we have our taxes handled by a reputable firm that makes sure our returns are properly filed. To quote the Apostle Paul again: “Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” (Romans 13:2)

Finally, tax season provides an opportunity to evaluate your personal stewardship. Completing your tax return forces you to see the full picture of how much you earned, gave, saved and spent in 2021. How you’ve handled money reveals much about yourself and your values. This year, maybe it’s time you reassess your financial priorities.

In Acts 20:35, we find the only quote of our Lord Jesus that is nowhere found in the Gospels. Apparently, it was a widely known statement and one that the Holy Spirit saw fit to enshrine in inspired scripture: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”